For the last month I have been experiencing an Intermittant Clunking when taking off from a stop....when it occurs it sond as if there is something big and heavy loose in the trunk and from the force of taking off it hets the rear body panel (BUT NOT SO). Today I was making a slow and tight right hand turn and I gave it power and it sounded as it was coming from under the car on the mid section or front???? I am confused....doesn't sound as any c/v joint I have ever heard. I have replaced the right front bearing/hub about a year ago and it is a 90 coupe with approx 115k. About the only thing it could be on the front is a c/v joint I would think - but what aboput the rear? I may have 2 completely different problems???? Either noise is intermittant in nature (heck it wenbt away for 2 weeks...why me :))

Help please

Engine cradell ,worn bushings. If that how it is spelled.

Dog-bone??? Upper support over radiator can cause strange noises allowing the whole engine assy shift around. Bushings often gone.

I have replaced the dog bone thingie, but thanks - will take another look-see. I failed to mention that it is one single CLUUUNK ...not a series of cluks like a c/v joint.

You are scaring me on the cradle bushings . The car has never been in a "salty State", but I did disclose the wrong mileage....the odometer reads 123K (Mileage sure flys when you are having fun )

I had a Buick with the same transmission and it was the chain in the transaxle.

Have you tried having somebody in the car holding the brake giving it gas, while you look under hood for movement.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have checked the dog bone and its looks great / newish actually. Engine seems tight when under power and brake locked.

*Experienced my phantom noise again yesterday...

Definitely coming from the rear of the car and seemed to make the noise when in a bind taking off from a stand still (taking off and turning at the same time)...

would a shock/strut mount/bearing cause a single "cluuunk"....is there anything in the rear suspension other than the struts in the rear that could make a single cluunk noise....the wheels have been torqued (was state inspected recently and they remove the wheels) BUT I am going to recheck that possibility today.

Thanks for any input

Hi Nic, have you checked all of your exhaust system hangers? I have had the "donuts" stretch and allow the pipe to bang around. Also check the 2 rubber hangers at the muffler. Donuts are 1 or 2 $ at NAPA........ Jim

I hate to tell you this, but I had the same problem about a year ago. After awhile, the sound got much worst. I had to replace my balancer. My 1988 Reatta has over 277K hard miles and I drive it back and forth to work everyday.

I just replaced my balencer. My bad one made a sound like a loose exhaust. Grab your power steering pulley and try and spin if it spins and the engine don't it's the balencer pretty simple to replace if it is.

Thanks for the additional ideas fellows....will re check exhaust hanges and the balancer in a few .

Nic

It is not a regular clunking? Something yellow, new on your car?

It sounds like it could simply be the spare tire that is moving around? Try taking it out and do a test drive.

Not ever owning a Reatta, but having several 93/94 Regals, I would guess either the bearing plate on top of the struts or a rear control arm failure? Like I said I am unsure of the suspension set up in the Reatta, but if at all like these 93's then that's where I would look.

Gentlemen,
I had a rear ender a year ago....EDBSO came up with checking the spare tire....well, I am not sure this is the problem or not as I have not had enough road time to confirm, but the wonderful BODY SHOP THAT DID THE REPAIRS left the jute (thick fiber insulation stuff) that lays under the trunk carpet, and also lays inbetween the spare tire and spare tire well O U T . DID NOT PUT BACK IN OR RE-INSTALL THE JUTE INSULATION AFTER REPAIRS....ERRrrrrr. Anway, just taking the spare tire and shoving it "a little" against the spare tire well makes a loud cluunking sound very much like what I was hearing / experiencing. Maybe it is the problem, maybe it is not, but odds is IT IS.....I am sorry for any hassle/s I have caused by asking silly questions if it is. Please give me credit for at least admitting what I may have found to be the problem as silly as it may be ....thank you Robert and thanks all for your suggestions and help ...

It wasn't the yellow thing?

I do hope that you got it solved.

no way sir


nite...